Campus Gandia (UPV) continues to support the active participation of the community in research and innovation projects. In 2024, UPV, through its Department of Cultural Action, launched its first Citizen Science call to engage the public in initiatives that bridge scientific knowledge with the pressing challenges of our time. Within this initiative, SONARTE (Fusion of Science, Lutherie, and Technology in Perfect Harmony) was born—a project that brings together tradition, music, and technology, culminating in a unique experience: the Lutherie & Science Workshop, taking place at Campus Gandia from September 29 to October 2, 2025.
📅 Workshop Dates: September 29 to October 2, 2025
📍 Location: Campus Gandia (Laboratory B009)
⏰ Time: 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM
💶 Price: free
The workshop will be led by Rubén Picó Vila, professor and expert researcher in musical acoustics at Campus Gandia, and Llorenç Fenollosa Gimeno, luthier at the Higher Conservatory of Music of Valencia.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen science is a collaborative approach to research that allows anyone interested to actively participate in scientific projects, regardless of their academic background. This approach democratizes access to knowledge, enables the public to contribute to data collection and hypothesis testing, and strengthens the connection between science and society. Citizen science fosters a more open dialogue between researchers and the public, encouraging a more inclusive and diverse society. Citizen science not only makes science more accessible to the public but also enriches research with fresh perspectives and valuable insights.
Luthiery: Blending Tradition, Craftsmanship, and Science
Luthiery is the craft of designing, building, and repairing stringed musical instruments. While luthiery is often linked to artisanal knowledge handed down through generations, it is also a field where scientific principles play a crucial role. Acoustics, material physics, and technology merge with the luthier’s artistic sensibility to creft violins, violas, and guitars that produce truly distinctive sounds. This workshop will explore luthiery from an interdisciplinary perspective, where tradition intersects with scientific innovation, allowing participants to experience firsthand how structural and material choices shape an instrument’s sound.
Hands-On and Interactive Workshop
The Luthier & Science Workshop will take place in person at Laboratory B009, Campus Gandia, in the afternoon from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. With a total duration of 12 hours, the workshop is designed to blend theory and practice in a dynamic, hands-on, and participatory environment.
Each session will begin with a concise theoretical introduction, followed by hands-on experiments with materials, instruments, and techniques unique to luthiery. The workshop will explore concepts such as vibration patterns on surfaces, how shape and thickness affect acoustics, and the progression of sound from a simple rectangular plate to a fully assembled instrument. Participants will have the opportunity to observe and measure vibrational phenomena using laboratory tools, and investigate how components such as the soundboard, braces, and bridge influence an instrument’s resonances.
Who Can Take Part?
This workshop is open to anyone interested in the intersection of science, music, and instrument making, including university students from any discipline, musicians, professors, researchers, educators, and members of the public with an interest in acoustics. No prior knowledge is required—just a curiosity to learn and a willingness to experiment.
This initiative highlights Campus Gandia’s ongoing commitment to cutting-edge sound research, fostering collaboration and open dialogue.
